Clayton Teen Indicted For Beating, Robbery Of Handicapped Grandfather

A Clayton teenager has been named in a three count criminal indictment for the alleged assault and robbery of his own grandfather.

It happened on March 11, 2019 at a home on Government Road outside the Clayton city limits.

Marcus Antonio Dunston Jr., is now 19 but was 18 when the offense occurred. Dunston, who was living with his grandfather at the time, allegedly struck the elderly man in the face, reached into his pocket and stole his cell phone before leaving on foot.

Johnston County deputies arrived and found the 70 year-old victim suffering from injuries to his face including bleeding.

A responding officer spotted the teen a short distance away on Government Road. When he saw the deputy, Dunston reportedly ran into a wooded area. Following a brief manhunt, Dunston was located but he resisted arrest when a deputy tried to place him in handcuffs.

Dunston was indicted this month by a Grand Jury in Smithfield for common law robbery, assault inflicting serious bodily injury, and aggravated assault on a handicapped person.